LGBT Adoption

Contact Our Fort Walton Beach Adoption Lawyers at (800) 822-5170

Florida used to have the only legal statute in the United States explicitly
banning adoption for same-sex couples. In 2010, the Florida Supreme Court
deemed the statute unconstitutional, opening up adoption to all residents
of the state. And, since the legalization of same-sex marriages in 2015,
adoption among LGBT couples is now more common than ever. However, the
legal processes are still complex and time-consuming. Our Fort Walton
Beach adoption attorneys are here to help.

Contact us in Fort Walton Beach to take the first steps toward growing
your family: (800) 822-5170.

Types of Adoption for Same-Sex Couples

Depending on your situation, a variety of adoption types are available
to the LGBT community, including:

Joint adoption – this type of adoption allows both parties to jointly become legal
parents of the child. This is only available to married, same-sex couples
and is not currently an option for unmarried couples.

Single adoption – single adoption is an option for unmarried couples, or for someone in the
LGBT community to adopt as a single parent, through the Florida Department
of Children and Families (DCF) or through a private adoption agency. Applying
through DCF requires more paperwork, classes, and questionnaires, but
is generally cheaper than private adoption. Additionally, DCF offers a
variety of reimbursements and benefits to those who adopt through them.
Adopting through a private agency often requires an in-home study, and
generally costs thousands of dollars more than a DCF adoption.

Stepparent adoption – this type of adoption streamlines the process of becoming a legal parent
to your spouse’s child. Reserved for married couples, this process
is the same for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. In order to
adopt as a stepparent, one of the partners must be the biological parent
of the child, and the other biological parent must relinquish all parental
rights, as Florida law does not allow a child to have more than 2 legal parents.

Second parent adoption – this type of adoption was previously used for those wanting to adopt their
spouse’s child. Although more expensive than stepparent adoption,
second parent adoption is available for unmarried LGBT couples, and is
usable when the ward is
not the biological child of either parent.

Our Fort Walton Beach Adoption Attorneys Are Ready to Help You

LGBT adoption laws are constantly changing. At The Virga Law Firm, P.A.,
our lawyers stay up to date on all the processes and legalities concerning
LGBT adoption. We are honored to help people grow their families and are
eager to assist you through this process.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.